INTEREST IN A TRAVEL CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1937, Page 12

INTEREST IN A TRAVEL CLUB.

Mrs. V. Macky Returns From Australia.

"Canberra is a perfect city, but—" A strangely marked black and white cat stirred lazily on the sofa and Mrs. Victor Miicky turned her attention to the beloved pet that she had deserted during: her Australian tour. "He's thinner," she said. "But, to get back to Canberra, I loved the whole city. It is wonderfully planned. The streets are attractively set out with trees, the buildings are artistic and modern, and the gardens are simply lovely. There is only one fault I can find—the suburbs are too divided. By that I mean that the houses are planned according to income. The highly paid officials ail live in one part of the city and those with less money in another quarter. Through this there is rapidly growing up a new form of class distinction and the city is divided into cliques. In my opinion this is a strange thing to find in a city of democratic j ideals. Class distinction runs directly agaist all democratic principles."

Solomon, the cat, stirred again and Mrs. Macky turned from Canberra to speak of Australian people in general. In her opinion they were a race of enthusiasts, especially the women. "The way the women unite in public efforts is remarkable," she exclaimed. "Women voters are as enthusiastic as the men, and in their ideas they are very progressive."

When questioned on the possibilities of establishing a travel club, similar to the New Zealand association, in Australia Mrs. Macky said that she had talked to many people on the subject and they seemed enthusiastic. The New Zealand Women's Association members were particularly keen, while the Women Writers of New South Wales, the Travelmen's Club, the English-speaking Union and the Pacific Islands Club all expressed their interest. "I do hope that it will be established," she said, "for I think it would be a great thing

for the country." Mrs. Macky's interest in the Auckland Travel Club is well known and she recently visited Dunedin to establish a similar organisation there.